Zipse: Mystik Dan brings back old feelings with his new victory

“The Derby winner is back!”

I imagine that was the exuberant cry made by men, women and children which rang out from all corners of Churchill Downs on Saturday as Mystik Dan skimmed the rail to victory in the Grade 3, $275,000 Blame Stakes.

Perhaps I am overestimating the importance of his first victory since winning the 2024 Kentucky Derby. Then again, maybe I am not.

Mystik Dan returns to winner’s circle in Blame Stakes.

Whether or not you happen to be a fan of Mystik Dan, his return to the winner’s circle is a positive for racing. Better yet it came in a solid graded stakes on a big Saturday card under the famed twin spires.

Showing positive signs last time out at Oaklawn, it was déjà vu for team Mystik Dan at its home base in Louisville, Ky. Much as he had done last spring, trainer Kenny McPeek warned anyone who would listen that his charge was doing too good to ignore.

It was just over one year ago when the homebred son of Goldencents made the most of a heady ride by veteran rider Brian Hernandez Jr. and held off the late challenges of both Sierra Leone and Forever Young on the first Saturday in May.

Flash forward to the last Saturday in May of 2025, and wouldn’t you know? The pair did it again.

The rail at the head of the Churchill Downs stretch apparently holds a special place in its heart for Mystik Dan. Once again the sea parted at just the right time for the now three-time graded-stakes winner.

Actually, it was another very good ride by Hernandez, on a familiar mount who he has ridden 11 times in the colt’s 13 career races.

Mystik Dan is a talented horse who can pocket calmly behind horses and go when asked by the rider. Hernandez knows it and has found a similar opening in all three of their graded-stakes wins together.

Mystik Dan moved outside the tiring speed on the turn and then right back to a big opening on the rail. He easily held sway the late runs by the graded-stakes-winning trio of Antiquarian, Post Time and Hall of Fame to win by 1 1/4 lengths as the third betting choice in the 1 1/8-mile affair.

The final time for the race, which serves as the local prep for the Grade 1, $1 million Stephen Foster, was a solid 1:48.45.

Four weeks out from the Foster, it seems like a likely spot for Mystik Dan’s next race and another chance for him to prove himself again at Churchill Downs and as an older horse.

Sadly, this is not something we have seen much from the winners of America’s most prestigious race in the 21st century.

With the victory, the 4-year-old bay with the striking white blaze became the first Kentucky Derby winner to return and score another win at Churchill Downs since Silver Charm did it nearly three decades ago in the 1998 Clark Handicap (G2).

Mystik Dan also became one of the few horses to win the run for the roses and then make it to the winner’s circle in any race as an older runner in recent decades.

Before Saturday’s Blame, it had become all too easy to expect failure from another Kentucky Derby winner.

After finishing in the top three in a consecutive trio of Grade 1 races in the spring of his 3-year-old campaign, the wheels fell off the Mystik Dan express.

The only horse to run in all three legs of the Triple Crown last year finished eighth in the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga in June, sixth in the Malibu Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita in December and ninth in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park in January.

Written off after the three straight flops following his second-place finish in last year’s Preakness Stakes, he proved Saturday that he still has the ability to compete at a high level.

Let’s give some credit to his team. Undeterred by a poor streak of racing, the connections of Mystik Dan did not give up on him even if nearly everyone else did.

There would seem to be a lesson within his past performances. Maybe we should not give up so soon on these horses whom we love to gamble on and see run.

Given the opportunity to bounce back, the winner of the 2024 Kentucky Derby has responded. Once again his future appears bright.

Racing needs more familiar faces to succeed as older horses. It certainly would serve the sport well if Kentucky Derby winners were seen competing and winning important races later in their careers.

Whether or not you believe Mystik Dan will once again move successfully back into Grade 1 racing, it was a pleasure to see him running well and winning again against good competition at Churchill Downs.